Bottle reclaiming machine



April 1 945. A. s. WATERS 2,373,932 Q BOTTLE RECLAIMING MACHINE Filed June 19; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April,l7,'l945. v A. SQVIATERS 2,373,932

. BOTTLE RECLAIMING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ends of each pair of arms I5 together.

Patented Apr. 17, 1945 amassed BOTTLE RECLAIMING MACHINE I Andrew Waters, Dallas, Tex, assignorjof the v v 'half to qcseph ine Shorter, Dallas flex. v Application June 19, 1943, Serial No. 491.457

l Claim. (c1. 51 -125) This invention relates to glass grindingapp a ratus and it has particularreference to a machine fol-resurfacing the lips of beverage bottles which have been chipped, for reclaiming. 1

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bottle reclaiming-"machine having aplu rality of rotatably disposed, vertically displaceable grinding elements, each shaped-tolcorrespond to the lip of a bottle and under which the latter is mounted,'to renew the impaired surfaces to permit the bottle to be again put to use as a new bottle and to insure adequate sealing thereof when a conventional cap is applied thereto.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a novel form of clamp or holding means for each individual bottle in the machine while undergoing the resurfacing process, to insure against slippage or displacement with respect to the grinding element.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as being fragmentarily shown. I

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein I denotes a base on which is disposed a circular series of bottle retaining clamps. These clamps consist of a circular plate I I conforming to the bottoms of the bottles I2 and are provided with upturned portions I3 about the edges nearest the center of the base l0, serving as a'retaining flange to center the bottles on the plates. Each plate II has a riser I4 rearwardly thereof, to which is connected for vertical adjustment, a pair of forwardly extending and inwardly curved arms I 5 which embrace the bottle I2.

A hinge clamp is provided for connecting the This clamp consists of a block I6, pivotally disposed in the bifurcated end of one arm, carrying a threaded pin I'I- which latter receives a wing nut I8, the latterbearing againstoutwardly turned portion I9 of the bifurcated endof'ithe companion arm'I5. Thus, the bottle'is securely clamped fin position on its plate I I and isthereby held against displacement as its lip F isbeing ground i'rr'the manner to be presentl explained; i f j Situated above the base'is a pair of relatively spaced plates 2o, se rving'as a"housing' forjthe driving gears of the -"machine, to be later described. This gear housing is "supportedupona series of uprights 2|, rising from the base Land which may be adjustable in height, if desire'd;by virtue of their telescopic 'const'ructionas shown in Figure 1. Through this provision, combined with other adjustments to be later set forth, bot- 'tlesof various heights may be accommodated in the machine.

The plates 20 are held in spaced relationship by spacing bolts 22 and between these'platesthere on its upper end and which is driven in any suitable manner, as by a small coordinating gear 21, mounted on a shaft 28, fragmentarily shown in Figure 1. This latter shaft may be driven by a motor, not shown, or by other means.

Mounted on the central drive shaft 25, intermediate the plates 20 is a large gear 29, the teeth of which enmesh those of the smaller gears 23, causing simultaneous rotation of the latter and consequently rotating the spindles 24.

Referring now to the spindles. and the grinding discs or heads 30, it will be observed in Figure 5 that the grinding discs orheads 30 are each produced from a suitable, abrasive or polishing material having their undersurfaces annularly grooved as at a to conform to the lip b of a bottle I2. A pit or'recess, such as indicated at c in Figure 5, caused by chipping theglass from the lip and rendering the bottle useless, will be obliterated by grinding oi the surrounding glass to the depth of the recess to enable the bottle to be again put to its original use.

Each grinding disc 30 has a stem 3| which extends upward into the hollow spindle 24. A boss d on the stem 3| is provided with a transverse slot e, through which extends a pin 32, the latter extending also through the walls of the spindle 24. A spring 33 surrounds the upper end of the stem 3|, within the spindle 24 and bears against the upper end of the boss d. Thus, it will be seen that the grinding disc 30 will yield to any irregularities in the lip of the bottle being ground, to prevent any injury thereto and further, the grinding elements may be raised against the resistance of the springs 33 to install and remove bottles. Also, this provision enables bottles of various heights to be reclaimed.

In Figure 4 it will be observed that one of the arms 15 of each of the bottle clamps is hinged to the riser M. This hinge enables the arm to be displaced far enough from the companion arm to admit a bottle; after which the arms are secured together in the manner explained.

In operation, a bottle I2 is placed oneach of the plates H and clamped securely in place by arms |5.. While installing each bottle, the grinding element thereabove is held in raised position against, the resistance of its spring. After all bottles have been properly positioned, the driving shaft 25 is set in motion to rotate gear 29 which, in turn rotates the smaller gears '23, causing the spindles 24 and consequently the grinding discs 30 to revolve. Accordingly, the damaged lips of the bottles are renewed so that they may be again used.

Especially when used as beverage containers,

bottles having nicks in their lips are unfit for further use and must be destroyed This results, in considerable waste and it is to overcome these losses that the invention has been designed. However, such other uses to which the machine can be put are also within the spirit and intent of the invention.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a machine for renewing damaged lips of bottles, the combination comprising a base and a. gear housing supported above said base on a central standard, a large central gear and a plurality of smaller gears grouped about said large gear in said gear housing, a hollow spindle individual to each of said smaller gears, abrasive grinding heads having annular lip receiving remasses in their operative faces and further having stems receivable in said spindle and constrained against other than vertical movement in said spindles, spring means resisting upward move ment of said grinding heads, a series of bottle clamps spaced circumferentially below said grinding heads, each comprising a base and a riser having a vertical flange extending partially therearound and further having circular arms at its ANDREW S. WATERS. 

